The past couple of nights, he’d gone to her door and touched the hard wood. It was enough for now. Having her this close, her scent surrounded the house. He knew where she was just by following the floral smell. So heady.

He’d spent most days with a stiff cock, imagining all the pleasure they could have with each other.

He slammed her against the locker, his fingers wrapped around her neck. “No one will ever fuck you, Mabel. You’re going to be the loneliest bitch in the pack. Even on heat, they’ll avoid you.”

His old words taunted him.

At the sound of a twig snapping, he turned to find the woman of his dreams standing there. She wore a white summer dress. The fabric was sheer, and he saw the outline of her curvy body.

She was different from other females of the pack. Her curves were one factor.

“I didn’t know you were out here.” She made to turn away, but he couldn’t have that.

“You can’t keep avoiding me forever.”

Mabel turned toward him. “And why not?”

“I’m not as big of an idiot as you think. You know the rules. To sever our mating, you have to give this a chance. Both of us do.”

She tucked some hair behind her ear. “And what if I am?”

“We both know you’re not, but after this year, if you haven’t given me a chance, then I can request a second year. I can keep on requesting until you give me the chance to earn back your trust.”

“That’s never going to happen,” she said.

“Damn it, Mabel, you think I don’t know how fucked up I was? What I’ve done?” he asked. “I do, in case you don’t know.”

“Don’t mock me.” She took a step toward him. “Do you even think for a second you’d be considering this if I wasn’t your mate? The years of name-calling, of your spiteful, bullshit attitude toward me. You expect me to believe that one change and you’re different?”

“I can’t take back what I did.”

“No, you can’t, but what you, the Alpha, and my parents are trying to do is tell me to get over it. Do you have any idea what it was like for me? Huh? You ever considered that?” She looked him up and down. “You with your muscles and your body that made girls want you and men envious. Even your pack friends. Ben and Rupert, I recall. Yeah, they were your buddies. Followed you around like little puppy dogs, willing to do whatever it was you enjoyed.”